Airfield Runways in Norway

[Kjetil Aakra]

Hi all.

As far as the nature of runways in Norway are concerned I think we ned to look at a few photos to see what they looked like.

First, some photos showing the construction and storage (and what I beleive are containers of wooden nails?) used to contruct these so-called "Eierkisten" Andreas mentioned.







These photos come from the aformentioned website and there were many more showing the same scenes, even how the wood aririves by boats! The presence of Bf 109Es from II./JG 77 date these photos to no later than November 1940, if memory serves.



Secondly, here's the Eierkisten in use, note how the space is filled with dirt. Photo from Herdla, probably in 1943-43.



Part of the runway at Herdla showing the unpopular wooden planking (this would be the "plankedekke"). There may be a concrete part of the runway in the upper left corner but it is hard to make out.

As parts of the runways at Herdla still exist it is know that they were concrete and I would beleive they were covered with these wooden elements. At least that's how the Luftwaffe pilots remember Herdla!

We all have much to learn about runway construction in Norway, but I for one are swamped with a few other projects at the time so I guess any in-depth studies and/or books must wait for the time being. Attending the Norwegian aviation literature seminar at Gardermoen this weekend didn't exactly lessen my workload!!!

All the best,

Kjetil